Liverpool on the charge as Manchester United stumble, Aguero awesome

Rounding up the best and worst of the Premier League action over the weekend.

Goal of the weekend

At first glance it was one of those where you thought the keeper might have done better. The ball flew in right over Kasper Schmeichel's head, and given his previous errors in the game it would be easy to point the finger at him. But when you watch Sergio Aguero's thunderous fourth goal for Manchester City in Saturday's 5-1 mauling of Leicester, you'll see that the ball was hit with such dip and power that Schmeichel actually had no chance. Not many can strike a ball like him.

Assist of the weekend

Liverpool might have been a touch disappointed they didn't beat Southampton by more than 2-0 on Sunday, but if it was panache you're looking for then look no further than Roberto Firmino's flamboyant back flick for Mohamed Salah's strike. Impudent, showboating, damn entertaining, but most importantly, brilliantly incisive.

Prediction of the weekend

With six more wins required to confirm themselves as champions, it would take an act of God to stop Manchester City at this stage. Beneath them, though, it's all up for grabs. Most have thought Manchester United would take second place, and for much of the season they have justified that to a point, a relatively grim accumulation of points leaving them clear of the rest.

But the way things are going, they might not stay there. United weren't calamitously bad against Newcastle but were still beaten by a team that was in the relegation zone at the start of play. United haven't been in dazzling form recently, to say the least, winning four of their last nine: not a calamitous run, but neither one that will put any sort of fear into their rivals.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have matched Manchester City over the last 10 games, and are now only two points behind United. So here's a prediction: Liverpool will finish second in the Premier League, or at least above United. At the very least, the match between the two on March 10 looks like a spicy affair.

Liverpool have second place in their sights following a good run of form and Manchester United's stumble at Newcastle.

Resurrection of the weekend

A few months ago, it wouldn't have been the most outrageous conclusion to more or less write off Mousa Dembele. Certainly to say he would never return to his imperious best, constant injuries having taken their toll. Mauricio Pochettino was apparently worried about the same: at least part of the reason for his extended interest in Ross Barkley was that he suspected Dembele's best days were behind him.

But to watch Dembele strut around the Wembley pitch on Saturday as Tottenham thrashed Arsenal 1-0 (if such a thing is possible) was to watch a man return to his peak. At his best, getting the ball off Dembele is like trying to extricate fluff from Velcro: frustrating and impossible. That's what he did to Arsenal this weekend.

Unsurprisingly, Pochettino is convinced again. "For me he is a genius," he said, "an unbelievable player."

Big-game player of the weekend

His team may have been given a hiding, but Jamie Vardy continued his extraordinary record against the Premier League's big six. His strike against Manchester City means he has scored past all six this season, taking his total to 23 in 43 appearances since Leicester were promoted in 2014.

Manager of the weekend

Four wins in seven league games for Swansea since Carlos Carvalhal arrived. That's one more than Paul Clement managed in his 20 at the helm this term. It's easy to be distracted by his eccentric analogies (something about putting meat on the barbecue this time -- don't ask), but over the last month or so there hasn't been a better manager in the Premier League.

Debut of the weekend

Ask your average football fan who Newcastle's first-choice goalkeeper this season was, and chances are most wouldn't know. Which isn't that surprising: even Rafa Benitez didn't seem to know, giving Rob Elliot 16 starts and Karl Darlow 10.

The answer might be slightly easier now, though. Martin Dabrovka learned he would be playing against Manchester United only a couple of hours before kick-off, and perhaps that's why he made such a confident debut between the Newcastle sticks, having been given little time to get nervous.

It wasn't the saves he made -- though they were excellent -- but more his assertiveness coming for crosses and generally commanding his area that were impressive. "Often new players can be a bit shy," Newcastle captain and defender Jamaal Lascelles said after the game. "But even in training he's been bossing people about a bit." It showed.

Childhood frustration of the day

The Ayews haven't played together since Jordan left Marseille in 2014. Now together again at Swansea, there was a moment in their win over Burnley when Andre possibly wished he had stayed at West Ham.

Jordan ran into the area from the right, less than a yard from the byline, with Andre in the middle, a few yards from goal. The cross was the sensible option, but Jordan instead tried a toe-punted shot that was never going to go in. And we all saw a flashback to their youth, the impudent younger sibling refusing to pass to his older brother. Andre, we've all been there.

Nick Miller is a writer for ESPN FC, covering Premier League and European football. Follow him on Twitter @NickMiller79.